Ambient Musics Effect on Sleep Essay - 1753 Words

Abstract Listening to music is a commonly accepted means of reducing stress and enhancing relaxation, and while studies exist detailing music’s effect on the human mind while awake, there is a lack of study on its effect during sleep. By forgoing research on music’s effect on sleep, the possibility of improving sleep through non-pharmaceutical means is reduced, thus imposing more expensive, side-effect ridden treatments onto people suffering from sleep problems. Since studies show that music is a positive stimulus to human emotion, one raises questions of how emotion changes during times of inactive thought and analysis of surroundings. This connection between human emotion and music inspires promise of enhancing sleep for people with†¦show more content†¦With pharmaceutical treatments leading to unwanted outcomes, other methods of enhancing sleep are made more attractive. By eliminating stress prior to and during sleep, pre-sleep arousal is diminished and the quali ty of sleep is enhanced, thereby reducing fatigue and other related symptoms of sleep deprivation (Niet, Tiemens, Lendemeijer, Hutschemaekers, 2009). The study of music in stress reduction â€Å"shows that music can influence human emotions and treatment outcome in a positive way.† (Niet et al., 2009). This association between music and stress reduction â€Å"has [also] been found to reduce circulating noradrenalin, which is associated with sleep onset,† therefore making it reasonable to further investigate music as a cheap, side-effect free treatment of common sleep problems (Lai et al., 2005). Prior studies on music and sleep are uncommon, but found â€Å"the magnitude of difference between groups [listening to music and not listening to music] was clinically significant and indicated 35% improvement overall in the music group† (Lai et al., 2005). While studies on the effect of music on sleep exist, and the â€Å"results indicate that music is a potential nonpharmacological intervention for the treatment of sleep disturbances such as insomnia,† there are issues in the methodology used by past researchers (Harmat et al., 2008).Show MoreRelatedMusic Therapy And Its Effect On The Quality Of A Person s Life1802 Words   |  8 Pagesthe ability to change lives in a very powerful way, and science has shown us that it can have a positive effect on the quality of a person’s life. Music therapy is a healthcare practice that utilizes clinical and evidence-based music therapy methods to address stress, wellness, pain, physical rehabilitation, and to improve a p erson’s quality of life. It can have a significantly positive effect on people—physically and emotionally. While the earliest known mention of music being used as a therapy appeared